If you’ve been in the UK over the past few days you may have noticed that its been a tad warm. With record-breaking temperatures experienced nationwide, tram systems have had to introduce revised services with both speed restrictions and infrastructure damage being experienced.
Blackpool Tramway
- Flexity2 002 suffered pantograph problems on Tuesday 19th July leading to a service suspension for around two hours whilst the tram was rescued and returned to depot by 013.
London Tramlink
- Severe delays due to speed restrictions
Manchester Metrolink
- A reduced service was scheduled to operate across the network with trams only running every 12 minutes on all lines.
- Rochdale line – overhead line issues saw the service suspended. Initially the whole route was suspended on 19th July but latterly a service was able to run Monsall to Rochdale. A normal service is due to start from the beginning on 20th
- Bury line – damage to the overhead line was reported on Monday 18th No trams ran throughout Tuesday 19th July from Bury to Victoria. Normal services are expected to resume from the start of 20th July.
Nottingham Express Transit
- Reduced service in operation on Tuesday 19th July
Stagecoach Supertram
- The entire network was suspended from around 1300 on Tuesday 19th July due to the heat. Before this a reduced service was running with no trams between Shalesmoor and Middlewood/Malin Bridge.
- Previous to the major heat related issues further overhead line problems were reported on the Blue line which meant trams were suspended between Birley Lane and Halfway from Saturday 16th No estimate for repairs has been announced.
- Normal services – except for from Birley Lane to Halfway – are expected to resume from the start of service on Wednesday 20th
Tyne and Wear Metro
- Overhead line issues caused major disruption, starting from Monday 18th The initial problem was reported at Four Lane Ends but further issues saw the day end with trains only able to run Haymarket to South Shields and South Hylton/Airport to Regent Centre.
- Tuesday 19th July saw a blanket “do not travel” advice issued with a reduced service running every 15 minutes Airport to Regent Centre, Haymarket to South Shields and Haymarket to South Hylton.
- Its been confirmed that on Wednesday 20th July trains will still not be able to run from South Gosforth via the coast to St James although there will be a resumption from Airport to South Hylton and South Gosforth to South Shields.
West Midlands Metro
- There was an early end to services on Monday 18th July to allow for additional maintenance works
- On Tuesday 19th July there was overhead line damage at Dudley Street due to the heat leading to a revised service running: Wolverhampton St George’s to Wednesbury Parkway and Handsworth Booth Street to Edgbaston Village. This was in place between 0910 and 1445.
- All other services were subject to speed restrictions.